John F. Kennedy Elementary School's new mascot to be announced today (with video)

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- By popular vote, John F. Kennedy Elementary School is getting a new mascot today to replace the baby tiger.

Frank L. Meagher Elementary School closed at the beginning of the school year, and its students merged with Kennedy.

The newly integrated student body together voted last week on a new mascot for the Kennedy community, and the results will be announced today, said Jennifer Boughton, the parent who has been spearheading the effort to replace the school's dilapidated playground.

"I think it's time for a change," Boughton said of the move, which she organized with another parent and Marystephanie Corsones, the district's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, after getting feedback from teachers.

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"There are three different schools that have the baby tiger as their mascot, so we wanted to get the two schools together, get them united, and get them a mascot that represents both of the schools together," Boughton said.

The choices were a rhinoceros, which Boughton described as "steady and sure-footed," a racoon, which exudes "wisdom and confidence," a zebra, which is "unique in individuality," a bear, which is "brave and motherly and powerful," a gorilla, which is "aware of all the members in the community," and a hawk, which "teaches observance."

The idea has been somewhat divisive among parents.

Kathy Hernandez, president of the Parent Teacher Association, said on Friday she is not against blending traditions between the two schools, like what Kennedy did on the first day of school when the building adopted Meagher's tradition of having a pep rally-like event to kick off the school year.

At the same time, Hernandez said she feels like the move is part of an effort to turn Kennedy into "a new school."